John Dunne (PhD 1999, Harvard University) holds the Distinguished Chair in Contemplative Humanities, an endowed position created through the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He also holds a co-appointment in the new Department of Asian Languages & Cultures.

John Dunne's work focuses on Buddhist philosophy and contemplative practice, especially in dialog with Cognitive Science and Psychology. His publications appear in venues ranging across both the Humanities and the Sciences, and they include works on Buddhist philosophy, contemplative practice and their interpretation within scientific contexts.

John Dunne speaks in both academic and public contexts, and he occasionally teaches for Buddhist communities, most notably at Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe. In addition to serving as a faculty member for the Center for Healthy Minds, he is a Fellow and former Board member of the Mind and Life Institute. Dr. Dunne also serves an academic advisor for the Ranjung Yeshe Institute.

Updates and upcoming activities

Gomde Højskole near Aarhus, Denmark, will host a Contemplative Summer School 16-22 and 2-29 July, 2018. The program offers seminars on two topics: "Contemplation, Work and Engagement​" and "Contemplation, Existence and Personal Life." John Dunne joins Erik Pema Kunzang and many others for this unique experience.

​John Dunne's online course on Buddhist philosophy, "The Essence of Awakening," remains available through Tricycle Magazine.

"Unsaying, Not Knowing, and Pointing at the Moon: Language and Non-dual Practice," John Dunne's weekend seminar at Upaya Zen Center in February, 2018 is now available in Upaya's podcast series here.

For the 2017 Ranjung Yeshe Institute International Symposium, the tenth in the series, Dr. Dunne gave the keynote address, "Science and Buddhism: Why Bother?". All of the talks by a distinguished group of scholars are available here.

Many lectures from the 2106 International Symposium for Contemplative Studies, 2016, are now available. Below is Dr. Dunne's talk, "The Transdisciplinary Study of Contemplative Practices: Challenges and Opportunities."

Mind and Life XXX: Perception, Concepts & Self. ​Dr. Dunne had the honor of presenting with the late Dr. Catherine Kerr (starting at 54:00), available here.